First World War
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo, on the 28th of June 1914, was the direct cause of the beginning of the First World War (Gifford 18). Archduke Franz Ferdinand was an Austro-Hungarian royal prince of Hungary and Bohemia. He was born on 18th December 1863 in Graz, Austria (“Heir to the Austrian Throne Assassinated”). Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. In 1875 Duke Francis of Modena passed away and Archduke Franz Ferdinand inherited his throne. He was the age of about eleven when this event took place. Duke Francis of Modena was his cousin (“Heir to the Austrian Throne Assassinated”). This made Archduke Franz Ferdinand one of the richest men in Austria during his time. His assassination led the Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. Their declaration led the Central Powers consisting of the likes of Germany …show more content…
It is argued that there were other major contributors, some of the main ones being: the system of alliances; militarism; the crises created before 1914, nationalism, various domestic political factors, and the Eastern questions. The alliance system relates to the division made between Europeans powers in the period before 1914 (Bingham 28). There were two groups formed, the first consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The other alliance was that of Britain, Russia and France. Each member country in the alliance was independent; however, any conflict with members of the opposing group led to the involvement of sister members into the conflict. However, it is important to mention that some member countries had individual’s rivalry against specific nations of the opposing group. The Germans were in conflict with the French over Alsace (32). The Austrians were in conflict with the Russians over the Balkns while the British were in conflict with Germans over their navies and economic
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo, on the 28th of June 1914, was the direct cause of the beginning of the First World War (Gifford 18). Archduke Franz Ferdinand was an Austro-Hungarian royal prince of Hungary and Bohemia. He was born on 18th December 1863 in Graz, Austria (“Heir to the Austrian Throne Assassinated”). Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the eldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. In 1875 Duke Francis of Modena passed away and Archduke Franz Ferdinand inherited his throne. He was the age of about eleven when this event took place. Duke Francis of Modena was his cousin (“Heir to the Austrian Throne Assassinated”). This made Archduke Franz Ferdinand one of the richest men in Austria during his time. His assassination led the Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. Their declaration led the Central Powers consisting of the likes of Germany …show more content…
It is argued that there were other major contributors, some of the main ones being: the system of alliances; militarism; the crises created before 1914, nationalism, various domestic political factors, and the Eastern questions. The alliance system relates to the division made between Europeans powers in the period before 1914 (Bingham 28). There were two groups formed, the first consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. The other alliance was that of Britain, Russia and France. Each member country in the alliance was independent; however, any conflict with members of the opposing group led to the involvement of sister members into the conflict. However, it is important to mention that some member countries had individual’s rivalry against specific nations of the opposing group. The Germans were in conflict with the French over Alsace (32). The Austrians were in conflict with the Russians over the Balkns while the British were in conflict with Germans over their navies and economic